2003 Chevrolet Silverado 3500: brake failure

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Brakes · 107,124 miles · MI

I was driving to work in the morning on 9/23/14 and went to apply the brakes to slow down, when the brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I was able to slow down while down shifting the transmission and narrowly missing hitting the vehicle in front of me. I pulled over and noticed brake fluid leaking from beneath the brake master cylinder. I purchased a large bottle of brake fluid from a gas station and continued to fill the brake reservoir until I made it back to my local auto repair facility. During the shop's investigation, they discovered that a steel brake line had burst due to rust. In further investigation they noticed that all steel brake lines needed to be replaced, because they were nearly rusted through. I authorized the repair at a cost of nearly $1000.00. I have owned many vehicles that were much older than this truck that never had any issues with brake line rust or failure. This is a safety concern due to the sudden nature of the failure. Without any warning this could have resulted in a crash. I consider myself lucky, but if this is not addressed in this line of gm trucks someone could seriously get hurt or worse.

Filed Aug 19, 2014 · Brakes · 188,000 miles · NC

Thank god my husband was with me and knew what to do. I was driving. As we were going down the interstate at 65 MPH we hear a noise not having a clue in the world. He said we need to find a pull off and see what that could be. As I went to exit off I discovered I had no brakes. None whatsoever. As my husband gets it to a stop we discover brake fluid pouring out from behind the fuel tank and between the cab. I was panicking. My husband crawls up under it to discover all the brake lines are rusted out and busted. We purchased this vehicle the first of march 2014 from jerry (todd) hunt auto sale in lexington nc. How could he even be allowed to sell such an unsafe vehicle? That was a matter of life and death. How can chevrolet even put such brake lines on as that? As I called chevrolet they don't want to do anything. I called todd hunts to have the lady yelling at me! Rude! That's beside the point...I seen death before my eyes that day. I found on consumer agency where out of 473 complaints 101 was the same issue as mine the same trucks the years 1999-2003. I also found in new york times where gm isn't wanting to do a recall cause it was going to cost millions of dollars. So now what? We all just get killed before something is done?

Filed Jun 4, 2014 · Brakes · 121,938 miles · VT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado 3500. The contact stated that the brakes failed with no warning. The contact attempted to drive the vehicle on a residential road and upon applying the brakes, the pedal extended to the floorboard. The contact was able to drive the vehicle onto the emergency lane, noticed there was a leak underneath the vehicle and that the brake line had burst. The vehicle was scheduled to be inspected and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,938.

Filed Nov 4, 2011 · Brakes · 111,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet silverado 3500. The contact stated that while braking to a stop, the brake pedal went to the floorboard abnormally and he was unable to engage the brakes. The contact stated that he had to shift into neutral in order to stop the vehicle. He also mentioned that after he inspected the vehicle, he noticed that the brake lines were corroded and brake fluid was leaking. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 111,000.

Filed Aug 19, 2011 · Brakes · 87,000 miles · FL

Vehicle is a chevy 2003 4x4 3500 dually with approximately 87,000 miles. Sudden and complete brake failure while driving due to corroded brake line leak I since had fixed. While braking at slow speeds the brake pedal slams to the floor and in reverse there is also a loud clunk that shakes the truck.

Filed Aug 16, 2010 · Brakes · 82,400 miles · NY

Sudden complete brake failure while driving due to corroded brake line leak . Vehicle is a chevy 2003 4x4 3500 dually with approximately 82,000 miles. Vehicle is currently at repair shop. All brake lines are severely rusted and will have to be replaced.